The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-06

The Mississippi Penltentiary.
spccial to Times-pemoerat.l

Special 10 Times-Democrat.l
JACKSON, June 29-At a meeting of
the Board of Control of the Mississippi
penitentiary, held at Jackson, June %,
1887, the following proceedings were
had
The Board of Control on the 18th and
18th instant made an inspection of the
penitentiary convicts in Harrison coun-
ty at work on the construction of the
Gulf and Ship Island Railroad. 1t is
ordered that the following be entered on
the minutes of the board as the result of
said inspection:
There are in Harrison county at work
on said road 551 convicts, divided into
three camps. We find the rules and reg
ulations established for the government
of the penitentiary violated in the fol-
lowing particulars:
L. Copies of the printed rules and reg
ulations are not preserved and placed in
the hands of the guards.
2. Convicts are permitted to act as
guards.
8. Sufficient hospital accommodations
are not furnished. The diet provided
for the sick is not suitable. In one
camp there is no separate place Of con-
finement or hospital for them, but they
are placed in the stockade with other
| convicts, with no bedding except some
worn and exceedingly dirty blankets.
The necessity for better accommodations
| for the sick is shown by the fact that
there are sixty-seven on the sick list at
three camps, fifteen of whom have mea-
sizes. Sufficient trusses are not provided
some conviets with hernia being at work
without them.
4. Convicts have not, all of them, suf-
ficient clothing for a change and to en-
able them to keep Clearly and free from
vermin.
5. The convicts are not washed or
given an opportunity to wash them
selves, as the rules and regulations re-
9uire.
6. No devotional or religious exer-
quired by the rules and regulations, SC
far as has come to the knowledge of this
board.
| 7. Some of the convicts are allowed to
go without the convict guard in open
disregard and violation of the rules and
regulations prescribed by the Board of
Control.
The following convicts were found to
be unfit for duty of any kind at the
camps in question, and so declared to be
by the physician in charge, and it is
therefore directed that said convicts
viz: No. %, Goodwin, and No. 1856, BOZ
eastman, be returned to the walls Al
Jackson.
, We find that the convicts are well fed
and no instances of cruel treatment al
the camps in question have come to oul
!. knowledge at the meeting held by the
board at Mississippi City, June Is.
A communication was address ed Il
Capt W. III. Hardy. the President of tn,
Gulf and Ship Island Railroad, calling
his attention and that of the lessees t.
the foregoing instances of violations Of
the rules and regulations, and insisting
on the observance of the same. 1t i.
now ordered that the lessees be request
: ed to meet the Board of Control to-mor
row morning at 10 o'clock, for confer
, fence relative to the subject matter o.
said report.
i 1t is further ordered that Hon. Davit
: Johnson, superintendent of the peniten
, tiary, be again, as he was by the lette
: from Mississippi City, requested to re
2 port to said camps and remain Their
l and report at once any failure on tn
{ part of the management to observe an
enforce the said rules and regulations
The physician of the penitentiary, ID
r Writ Johnston, having complained tbs
/ the diet and bedding for the sick in tn
l hospital in the walls are insufficient, Co
g w. L. Nugent, attorney for and repr'
: sentative Of the lessees, appeared befol
the board on the 10Th june, and state
r that any requisition that DIR. Johnsto
:. may make for the hospital will be file
e at once; that instances of violations {
d the rules and regulations cited in Il
< foregoing report shall be remedied, an
K that the said rules and regulations sha
t, in future be strictly complied With.